A writer who moved from Pennsylvania to Belize for a cheap and laid-back life said it's saved her money but the newfound peace of mind is priceless

• Cristina Johnson moved from Pennsylvania to Belize in 2015.
• Johnson said living in the small Central American nation improved her finances  and quality of life.
• In 2021, she built her first home, an accomplishment she said would have never happened in the US.

In 2015, Cristina Johnson, a disabled writer from Downingtown, Pennsylvania, was looking for a fresh start. Due to her condition and the difficulty she was having finding employment in the United States, she decided to move abroad.